Clifton locals are delighted a new sea wall is in place to slow erosion at the beach settlement but an international expert warns the Hawke's Bay coast faces ongoing erosion problems.
Hasting District Council spent about $200,000 on the 80m-long limestone sea wall, known as a revetment. The council trucked in about 3000 tonnes of limestone rock for the project, which was completed about two weeks before Christmas.
Bob Pollock, manager of the Clifton Motor Camp, said he was delighted the wall had been completed on time and very appreciative of the work the council had done.
While the wall has yet to be tested in storm conditions, "it has been designed by engineers - if they think it will last it should last".
However, an international expert called in by Hawke's Bay Regional Council to report on coastal erosion issues up and down the region's shoreline, has warned of ongoing problems for Clifton and elsewhere as sea levels are forecast to rise.